Clarke to cut payouts for minor assaults

Justice Secretary Ken Clarke told MPs the changes would ensure payments are given to people with the most serious injuries and prioritise high-quality practical help.

But his plans would mean lower awards for attack victims for fractured skulls, broken jaws, hips or ankles, or two collapsed lungs.

Mr Clarke said the scheme would be widened to help Britons caught up in terror attacks abroad, while rapists and murderers will no longer be able to claim compensation if they become victims of crime.

High-profile criminals who have made claims include Soham child killer Ian Huntley. More than 3,000 prisoners and ex-prisoners sought payouts in the last year alone.

Mr Clarke told MPs: “Compensation should be focused on those with serious injuries.

“We are therefore proposing that the top 13 bands – over half the tariff bands – covering the most serious injuries are compensated at the present level.

“We will also protect tariff awards for the families of homicide victims, and awards for sexual crimes or persistent physical abuse.”

He went on: “In order to offer that protection, and fund the scheme sustainably, we propose to reduce or remove awards for those with less grave injuries.”

The victims’ surcharge system will be extended so that criminals pay a fine of up to £120 on their conviction. Higher fines for bad drivers will also be used.

Enid Rowlands, chairman of the charity Victim Support, said: “Victims deserve affordable and high quality services no matter where they are and these proposals could make that harder to achieve.

“Change for the sake of it is wasteful. These proposals could leave us with victim services that are more expensive and of lower quality.

“Even worse, they could leave victims in some parts of the country with little or no support at all.”